Combined shelter and closure for landing platforms



June 22, 1954 ERMAN ET A 2,681,698

COMBINED SHELTER AND CLOSURE FOR LANDING PLATFORMS Filed May 15, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet l Fig.

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, 5' 5 Walter Herman i Elmer a s g r V o June 22, 1954 w. HERMAN ET AL COMBINED SHELTER AND CLOSURE FOR LANDING PLATFORMS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 15, 1952 llllln.

i Walter Herman Elma/ 0. Snyder INVENTORS.

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COMBINED SHELTER AND CLOSURE FOR LANDING PLATFORMS I Filed May 15, 1952 3 Sheets-Shea 3 Fig.6

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rllula'lllllil'fs f Walter Herman Elmer 6. Snyder INVENTORS Q BY an EM Patented June 22, 1954 rist OFFICE COMBINED SHELTER AND CLOSURE FOR LANDING PLATFORMS Walter Herman and Elmer C. Snyder, Salina, Kans.

Application May 15, 1952, Serial No. 288,086

(01. Hill-36) 7 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in sheltering devices for loading platforms and the primary object of the present invention is to provide a combined shelter and closure for loading platforms, wherein the same is readily moved from its closure forming position to its shelter forming position in a convenient manner.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a combined shelter and closure for loading platforms involving a horizontal guide track that is secured to a building structure over an opening therein and which track slidably carries a pair of panels that may close the opening, the panels hingedly supporting panel sections that are extendable into the door opening of a car and one of the panels hingedly supporting a verticallyswingable roof forming panel that will be supported over and by the panel sections to form a covered entrance from the building structure into the car.

A further object of the prevent invention is to provide a combined shelter and closure for loading platforms, so constructed as to permit the same to be employed with cars whose bottom walls are disposed at difierent heights.

A still further aim of the present invention is to provide a closure and shelter structure of the aforementioned character that is simple and practical in construction, strong and reliable in to manufacture and install, and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully 1775 hereinafter described and claimed, references being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a building structure and showing the present invention mounted thereon and in its closure forming position;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the invention moved away from the opening in the building structure;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but showing the device arranged in its shelter-forming position.

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an enlarged view in horizontal sec tion taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 1, and

Figure 7 is an enlarged view in horizontal section taken on the line 7-? of Figure 3.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration, there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the numeral It] represents a horizontal header that is mounted by fasteners l2 or the like, to the outer face of a building structure S over an opening 0 in the building structure. The header is is open at its bottom and overlies and shields a horizontally disposed guide track I i that is suitably secured over the opening 0 and i, to the building structure S.

A pair of vertically disposed horizontally slidable main panels i6 and is are supported by the guide track M and their upper ends support rollers 20 and 22 that engage the track It to form the means whereby the main panels i6 and it are slidably supported by the track.

The inner vertical edges of the main panels i6 and I8 are hinged, as at 24 and 2G, to the inner vertical edges of a pair of horizontally swingable auxiliary panel sections 28 and 3t that are swingable over the outer faces of the main panels it and it. The auxiliary panel sections 28 and 383 may be swung perpendicular to the main panels l6 and i8. Chains 32 and 3d are attached to the outer faces of the main panels l6 and 58 use, small and compact in structure, inexpensive and their free ends carry hooks 36 and 38 that will enter ears All on the auxiliary panel sections 28 and 30 to limit swinging movement of the auxiliary panel sections to a position perpendicular to the main panels l6 and i8 and parallel to each other.

Vertical extensions it and st are provided for the auxiliary panel sections 2% and St). The extensions M and 46 are hinged, as at it and 5G, to the opposed or outer faces of the auxiliary panel sections 23 and 38. When the extensions 44 and 46 are not in use, they may be folded against the outer faces of the auxiliary panel sections 28, 39, however, when the extensions 4 and 46 are in use they will extend forwardly from the auxiliary panel sections.

The lower ends of the extensions id and viii terminate short of the lower ends of the auxiliary panel sections 28 and 3t, and have extension flaps 52 and 54 hinged thereto, as at 5% and 53. When not in use, the flaps 52 and 5d may be raised to contact the outer faces of the extensions Ml and 45.

A vertically swingable roof-forming panel Ed is hinged at one end, as at 62, to the upper end of auxiliary panel section 28 and includes laterally projecting side edge portions 64 and 66. The roof-forming panel 60 will extend between and will be supported upon the upper end of auxiliary panel section 30 when the auxiliary panel sections are disposed perpendicular to main panels I6 and I8. When the roof-forming panel is supported in this position, the innerside. edge portion 64 will extend upwardly under the header it to prevent rain from entering the opening or the shelter formed'by the invention.

A roof-extension 68 is hinged, as at 10, to the outer edge portion at of the roof forming panel 50 and will overlie the panel Bil whennot in use.

hooks 36 and 38 are engaged in eyes 49 as shown in Figure '7. Extensions-44 and 65 are extended forwardly of auxiliary panel sections 28, 30 and roof-panel 60 is' supported between and by said sections 28, 30. Extension 68 is swung forwardly and downwardly.

Extensions 44, 16 and roof extension 58 will extend into the opening'of a car C to shelter the loaders and articles beingmovedfrom the build ing structure into the car or from the car into the building platform.

Having described the claimed as new is:

1. A combined shelter and closure for loading platforms comprising a horizontal guide track adapted to be mounted over an opening in a building structure, a pair of vertically disposed horizontally movable main panels having invention, what is their upper ends slidably engaged with the guide tracks for movement of the main panels toward and away from each other, each of said mainv panels having an inner vertical edge, an auxiliary panel section hingedly secured to the. inner vertical edge of each main panel and movableto. a

positionperpendicular to the main. panels, and

a roof-forming panel having an end hinged to the upper end of one of. said auxiliary panel sections for vertical swinging .movement and extendable over the upper end of the other auxiliary panel section when the auxiliary panel sections are disposed perpendicular to the main panels.

2. A combinedshelter and closure for loading platforms comprising. a horizontal guide track adapted to be mounted over an opening in a building structure, a pair of vertically: disposed horizontallymovablemain panels having their upper ends slidably engaged with the guide tracks for movement of the main panels towardand away from each other, each of said panels having an inner vertical edge, an auxiliary panel section hingedly secured to the inner vertical edge of each main panel and movable to a position perpendicular to the main panels, and a roof-forming panel having an end hinged. to the upper end of one of said auxiliary panel sections for vertical swinging movement and extendable over the-upper end of the other auxiliary sectionwhen the auxiliary panel sectionsare' dis When the roof-extension 68 is being used, the same is swung forwardly against the edge.

posed perpendicular to the main panels, a horizontal header mountable over the guide track, said roof-forming panel having a laterally projecting inner side edge portion that extends upwardly under the bottom of the header when the roof-forming panel is disposed between the auxiliary panel sections.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said roof-forming panel also includes a laterally projecting outer side edge portion that extends from the same face of the roof-forming panel as the inner sideedgeportion, and an extension for the roof-forming panel hinged to the latter and restingagainstsaid outer side edge portion to extendw upwardly and forwardly from the roofforming panel when the latter is disposed between the auxiliary panel sections.

4. A combined shelter and closure for loading platforms comprising a horizontal guide track adapted to be mountedpver an opening in a building structure, a pair of vertically disposed horizontally movable main panels having their upper ends, slidably engaged with the guide" tracks'for movement of the panels toward and" away from each other, each of saidmain panels having an inner vertical edge, an auxiliary panel section hingedly secured to the inner vertical edge of each main panel and movable to a posi tion perpendicular. to the main panels, and-a roof-formingpanel having an end hinged to the upper end of one of said auxiliary panel sections for vertical swinging movement andextendable' over the upper end of theother" auxiliary panel section when theauxiliary panel sections are disposed perpendicular to the main panels,

a horizontally swingable extension for each auxiliary panel section and selectively v movable against and outwardly of the auxiliary panel section, each of said extensions having a' lower end terminating above the lower ends of the pair of main panels, and a vertically swingable flap. hinged to the lower end of each extension and extendable downwardly from the. extensions when the extensions are received in a caropening whose bottom wall is spaced'well below the lower ends of the extensions.

5. A combined shelter and closure for. loading platforms comprising a horizontal header adapted to be mounted over an opening in a building structure, a horizontal guide track also adapted to be mounted over an opening on a building structure and. covered by the header, a pair'of vertically disposed horizontally slidable main.

panels, rollers at the. upper ends of the .main

panels slidably engaged with the tracks, said main panels having. inner vertical edges, a pair of horizontally swingable auxiliary panel sections hinged to the inner vertical edges of said main panels and selectivelymovable over; theamain.

panels and to a position perpendi'cular'to the main'panels, a horizontally swingable extension for each auxiliary panel section and selectively movable against and outwardly from the auxiliary panel sections, a vertically swingable roofforming panel hinged to the upper end of one of said auxiliary panel sections and -foldable against said one of said auxiliary panel sections,

said roof-forming panel adapted to extend between the auxiliary panel sections to be sup ported thereupon when the auxiliary panel sections are disposed perpendicular, to the pair of main panels.

6. A combined shelter andclosure for loading platforms comprising a horizontal; header adapted to be mounted over an opening in a building structure, a horizontal guide track also adapted to be mounted over an opening on a building structure and covered by the header, a pair of vertically disposed horizontally slidable main panels, rollers at the upper ends of the main panels slidably engaged with the tracks, said main panels having inner vertical edges, a pair of horizontally swingable auxiliary panel sections hinged to the inner Vertical edges of said main panels and selectively movable over the main panels and to a position perpendicular to the main panels, a horizontally sWingable exten sion for each auxiliary panel section and selectively movable against and outwardly from the auxiliary panel sections, a vertically swingable roof-forming panel hinged to the upper end of one of said auxiliary panel sections and foldable against said one of said auxiliary panel sections, said roof-forming panel adapted to extend between the auxiliary panel sections to be supported thereupon when the auxiliary panel sections are disposed perpendicular to the pair of main panels, said roof-forming panel having an inner laterally projecting side edge portion extending upwardly under the header when the roof-forming panel is disposed between the auxiliary panel sections.

'7. A combined shelter and closure for loading platforms comprising a horizontal header adapted to be mounted over an opening in a building structure, a horizontal guide track also adapted to be mounted over an opening on a building structure and covered by the header, a pair of vertically disposed horizontally slidable main panels, rollers at the upper ends of the main panels slidably engaged with the tracks, said main panels having inner vertical edges, a pair of horizontally swingable auxiliary panel sections hinged to the inner vertical edges of said main panels and selectively movable over the main panels and to a position perpendicular to the main panels, a horizontally swingable extension for each auxiliary panel section and selectively movable against and outwardly from the auxiliary panel sections, a vertically swingable roof-forming panel hinged to the upper end of one of said auxiliary panel sections and foldable against said one of said auxiliary panel sections, said roof-forming panel adapted to extend between the auxiliary panel sections to be supported thereupon when the auxiliary panel sections are disposed perpendicular to the pair of main panels, said roof-forming panel having an inner laterally projecting side edge portion extending upwardly under the header when the roof-forming panel is disposed between the auxiliary panel sections, and an extension for the roof-forming panel hinged to the latter and adapted to extend between and over the extensions for the auxiliary panel sections.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 551,439 Hatcher Dec. 17, 1895 626,821 Babcock June 13, 1899 806,209 Thomas Dec. 5, 1905 1,714,550 Dreher May 28, 1929 1,954,869 Fitch Apr. 17, 1934 2,567,995 Eshnaur Sept. 18, 1951 

